Operating cord or chain for switches.



A. A. TIRRILL.

OPERATING com) on CHAIN ron swrronns.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 13,1910.

1,031,399. Patented July 2, 1912.

ALLEN A. TIBRILL. 0E SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK.

OPERATING CORD OR CHAIN FOR SWITCHES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2, 1912.

Application filed April 13, 1910. Serial No. 555,265.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ALLEN A. TIRRILL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in OperatingCords or Chains for Switches, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in operating cords or chains, andparticularly to an improved connecting device for fastening the cord orchain to an operating mechanism.

IVhile the invention is capable of use in other connections, the same isdesigned primarily and is especially useful in connection with ceilingor wall switches; wherein an operating cord or chain is suspended to 00-cupy a position of ready access to the person operating a switch mountedupon or embedded in the ceiling or wall of a room, etc. In switches ofthe character referred to, it is now usual to employ a rotatableactuating part adapted to be engaged by the suspended cord or chain, andthe present invention has particular reference to fasteninginstrumentalities for readily and detachably connecting the cord orchain to said rotatable element or part. The invention, however,contemplates a movable actuating part provided with a recessed orslotted portion, a cord or chain for operating said part, and adetachable connecting'device between the cord or chain and said partcomprising a ferrule secured to the cord or chain having an offsetheaded portion adapted to engage and interlock with the slotted orrecessed portion of the movable actuating part.

The novel details in the construction and arrangement will be apparentfrom the accompanying drawings, wherein a convenient embodiment of theinvention is illustrated, when considered in connection with thedetailed description hereinafter contained.

In the drawings, Figural is a fragmentary end view of a switch mechanismshowing a switch shaft and the movable actuating part, in the presentinstance, a rotatable sheave provided with my improved operating cord orchain, Fig. 2 is a sectional View of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a perspectiveview of the connecting end of the cord or chain, Fig. 4 is a detailelevation showing the manner of connecting the cord or chain to therotatable sheave, and Fig. 5 is a longitudinal view through Fig. 3. Reerring more specifically to the draw- 1ngs,where1n like referencecharacters designate corresponding parts in the several vlews, Arepresents a switch shaft, and B a rotatable actuating sheaveoperativelyconnected in any desired manner to the switch shaft, whetherby a direct or indirect connection, the latter constituting no part ofthe present invention. The periphery of the sheave 1s concaved or roovedas at C transversely to form a seat for the operating cord to bepresently referred to. A portion of the periphery of the sheave is,however, formed flat, as represented at D, and this flat portion orflange has a slot E formed therein, the longitudinal disposition ofwhich is circuniferentially of the sheave.

The operating cord, cable or chain, of any desired structural formation,is indicated at F and at the upper end of the same I provide theconnecting device now to be described. This connecting device comprisesa split ferrule I, provided witha transversely disposed inwardlyprojecting indented intermediate portion J, the ferrule being adapted tobe firmly compressed around the cord to clamp the cord within theferrule and to embed the internal rib constituted by the indentation Jtransversely into the cord to constitute an efiicient interlock of theparts. It will be observed that by the special fastening just referredto, the upper end of the cord forms in effect a head above theindentation J resisting any tendency of the cord to be pulledlongitudinally through the ferrule. At the outer end of the ferrule, thesame is offset approximately at right angles to form a neck or stemportion K in turn provided with a T-head L, this head being transverselydisposed with reference to the ferrule and operating cord and occupyinga position beyond one side thereof.

The manner of engaging the cord with the rotatable actuating sheave isillustrated quite clearly in Fig. 4, where it is seen that the ferrulein its introducing movement is arranged axially of the sheave with theT- head alined with the slot in the periphery of the sheave. When theT-head is passed through the slot, the ferrule and cord are turned intothe position shown by dotted lines which engages the head beneath theperipheral portion of the sheave adjoining the walls of the slot, as isobvious.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that by the meansprovided herein, a strong, simple and eflicient connection is obtained,and a connection which may with great ease and facility be made orbroken at the will. of the user. This ready attachment or detachment of,the operating cord or chain not only permits repair of the cord,

but enables the substitution of difl'erent styles or colors of operatingcords or chains to suit the whim or desireof the user, or in keepingwith thesurroundings attending the use of the device.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention iscapable of embodi- 'ment in forms and devices other than that hereinspecifically disclosed.

I claim:

1. In combination with a movable actuating part of a switch providedwith a slotted portion above an open space, means for operatin the sameincluding a cord, and an attaching device carried by the cord providedwith an offset portion adapted to engage said slotted portion of theactuating part and enter said open space therebeneath, substantially asdescribed.

2. In combination with a movable actuating part of a switch providedwith a slotted portion above .an open space, means for operating thesame includingv a cord, and an attachmg device carried by the cordprovided with a T-shaped engage said slotted portion of the actuatingpart with the head of the T entered into said open space therebeneath,substantially as described. .r I

3. In combination with a rotatable actuating sheave of a switch providedwith a grooved periphery and a slotted portion, means for'operating thesheave including a cord lying in the periphery of the switch, and adevice carried by the cord having an offset T-shaped portion adapted todetachably engage through said slotted portion ALLEN A. TIRRILL.

Witnesses: I

' DANIEL NAYLON, J r.,

M. M. Hoonrouo.

offset portion adapted to

